The second visioning workshop for the Seven Corners area will occur this Monday, June 18, at 7 p.m., at the Human Services Building, 6245 Leesburg Pike, across the street from the Seven Corners Shopping Center. The first workshop, held on May 21, attracted 130 residents and business owners, and resulted in many interesting suggestions and ideas.

Many of those ideas will be refined and focused in the second workshop, and then a planning task force will spend 18 to 24 months working with county staff on recommendations for potential changes to the county’s Comprehensive Plan. At the same time, smaller work groups may look at short-term issues that probably won’t require Comp Plan action.

Some of the assets, or strengths, for the area include convenient location for both residential and commercial uses, good variation of housing stock, broad range of retail nearby, and the sense of community for a diverse population. Areas for improvement were identified, too. Poor traffic circulation, aging buildings, language barriers, and inadequate pedestrian and bicycle safety were mentioned frequently. When asked about their vision for the future of the Seven Corners area, attendees responded positively: more recreation and open space, a community center, tree-lined streets, undergrounding of utilities, and improved traffic flow. Some visionary comments conflicted: affordable rental housing was listed by some as preferable. Other attendees said that low income housing brings down the appearance of the area and property values. Clearly, the planning task force will have a lot to review and analyze in the coming couple of years. The June 18 meeting is open to the public.

Mason District lost a talented artist and magnificent human being with the passing, on June 7, of Peggy Fisher, who would have been 91 next month. Peggy told me she always considered herself an Arlingtonian, but when she moved to Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads (GHBC) in the summer of 1996, she decided she needed to learn more about the big county to the west. Arlington’s loss was Fairfax’s gain, as Peggy embraced Mason District politics with the same gusto she had shown as the spouse of the respected and beloved Joseph L. Fisher, who served on the Arlington County Council before defeating Rep. Joel Broyhill to become 10th District Congressman in 1974 (the post-Nixon Democratic landslide). Joe served for three terms until he was defeated in the 1980 Reagan Republican landslide in 1980. Peggy was the energy behind wonderful candidate forums and issue discussions hosted at GHBC for many years. Through all the interesting political shifts, Peggy could be found in her studio, creating wonderful watercolors and oils. One of my favorite gallery viewings was at GHBC when Peggy’s paintings were displayed alongside a friend’s photographs of the same landscape or flowers. Seeing the same subject, side by side in different media, brought a new appreciation for color, focus, and shadow, and I shall always think of Peggy’s ability to blend her two great loves – art and politics. May heaven welcome you with open arms – and lots of watercolors, Peggy!

Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be e-mailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov